Russian warships neared Venezuela's Caribbean coast Tuesday in a show of strength meant to send a cautionary message to the United States and showcase Moscow's ambitions of making inroads in Latin America.

The global financial crisis can be overcome within 18 months by acting "quickly and decisively," Pacific Rim leaders said Sunday as they pledged to make food cheaper, governments cleaner and markets more open.

Federal regulators will guarantee as much as $1.4 trillion in U.S. banks' debt in a bid to get the distressed financial system pumping again. They also took steps Friday to make it easier for private investors to buy failed banks seized by the government.